‘Book Blast’ Set March 12 at International Mall

The ‘Kidgits Book Blast’ to promote both reading and collecting books is scheduled at the Miami International Mall in Doral on Saturday, March 12, from 2 to 4 p.m.Kidgits

The event has been scheduled at seven different Florida Malls of the Simon Property Group to help children bring active learning experiences to reading while featuring the Florida Department of Education’s “Find a Book, Florida’ tool that helps locate appropriate texts for age and reading levels.

A two-week book drive will also commence when families are encouraged to donate new and/or gently-used books at the Guest Services Desks for a two-week period following the events. The books will support the goals of The Florida Department of Education’s “Just Read, Florida!” initiative for distribution to programs and schools in the vicinity of participating mall through donations to the Florida Education Foundation.

The Simon Kidgits Club’s “Book Blast” event is free to all members. Families can sign up for the Kidgits Club, during regular mall hours, for a membership fee of $5.

Membership includes a Kidgits Club membership card and T-shirt, scheduled entertainment and activities for families, a Birthday Club (including birthday card and gift redemption certificate), unique programs and offers, discounts and a quarterly newsletter. For more information, visit www.simon.com/kidgits.

“For the second year in a row, Simon Property Group is proud to work with The Florida Department of Education…to encourage and promote reading,” said Lynnette Lauria, portfolio vice president of marketing for Florida, Simon Property Group.

Just Read, Florida! is a statewide reading initiative that prioritizes reading in Florida’s public schools and among all the community groups and volunteer organizations that support them with an overarching goal to have all children reading on grade level by 2012.